Kati Fuchs, a recent grad from Illinois State University (ISU), brings fresh perspectives on building community and belonging. In this interview, she shares a bit about who she is alongside a handful of lessons on taking the next step, no matter where you stand.
The following interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Q: I see you have a tattoo on your arm that says “Tell Me More.” Tell me more about it!
KF: A lot of times you ask people questions in class and they’ll give you a one-word answer. So I want to be like, “Yes! Absolutely. Tell me more,” so they’ll dive deeper into that. But it also relates to my life. I’m very people-centered. If we’re talking and you’re telling me about you, I’m always going to say, “Tell me more!” because I want to hear more about your life and I’m interested in what makes you, you.
Q: Is there anything you didn’t expect about being a high school teacher?
KF: I always expect the unexpected, but each class is entirely different. I’ve got my really loud, fun classes where we can have discussions about anything. I’ve got classes that are a little bit more quiet, and classes that are so self sufficient. I don’t think I could have predicted or expected that, you just have to be in it to see all these different personalities come together.
Q: Do you have a style of class that you prefer?
KF: I definitely prefer those open-dialogue classes, where people feel like they can just say something and enjoy conversations and bounce off of people’s ideas. I mean, that’s a dream English class!
Q: English classes really make us think about who we are and how we see the world! Do you try to bring that kind of reflection into your own classroom?
KF: Yes, absolutely. In my classes, we talk about conformity, and we’ve talked about prejudice. I’ve really thrown my freshmen into discussing social justice issues. I want them to see the world differently. I want them to think outside of the box, and especially do assignments or thinking that is outside of the box. It makes students think deeper.
Q: How do you help students feel like they belong?
KF: Being a resident assistant [in college], I talked to people about their mental health, and I talked to people about their classes. I had surface-level conversations and deeper conversations. When we talk to people, we want to feel seen and understood. There were definitely points in my life where I didn’t feel like I was seen or understood, and I never wanted someone to feel that way. My philosophy is based on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. You start with the “safety and belonging” piece. If someone doesn’t feel like they belong or are safe somewhere, you’re not building that trust. If they’re hungry or there’s anything that’s preventing them from getting higher up in the pyramid, it keeps them from learning, in general, and from learning more about themselves.
Q: As a recent college graduate, do you have any advice for students going into college?
KF: My biggest piece of advice is to make the most of it. Go into each day trying to be the best that you can be. In character, in spirit, in just health overall. Then, be able to go to bed at night with the mindset of, “I did everything I could that day to be the best I could be.” Then you start the next day with the same mindset!
Q: If you wanted each of your students to know one thing, what would it be?
KF: I always tell them, “High school is a really difficult time to find your place in the world.” This is like a practice of who you’re going to be and want to do outside of school. If you’re like, “I don’t know what I want to do, I don’t know what choices I want to make,” I’d say follow the passions that you definitely love. Do the things that really bring you the most enjoyment. Chase those things. Spending and prioritizing time for them is always going to lead you in the right direction. I want my students to know that it’s okay to take time to figure out what you want to do and where you want to go. Feeling good about every action you’re doing will eventually lead you to where you’re meant to be.
Q: Are there any last thoughts you’d like to share with students?
KF: Be happy, be safe, and be you. That can take you very far in life.